On the eve of a "crucial'' General Election, members of the Progressive Labour Party must present a united front if they hope to seize victory.

The message came last night from Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith during the opening address to the 1997 annual delegates conference.

Ms Smith told the audience at Alaska Hall, the party's headquarters where the conference is being held, that for the first time in 35 years the PLP was standing on the brink of victory.

"Bermuda's citizens will have the opportunity to experience policies and programmes designed to benefit the many and not the privileged few.'' She stressed that every party member was a party representative and therefore had to be united in the approach to the election. "And we must zealously guard against losing that unity,'' she added.

This was why members could not be complacent, she warned, as others had been recently.

"We must stay focused and keep our eye firmly on the prize. Now is not the time to break rank, to demonstrate your knowledge of party affairs by discussing campaign strategy with the news media.'' She also fired a parting shot at one-time PLP candidate in Paget East, Craig Walls, who is now set to run for the United Bermuda Party. "Contrary to Craig Walls' depiction of politics as a game, we are involved in a deadly struggle to take control of this Country for the first time ever!'' Ms Smith pointed the party's attention at the upcoming by-election in Pembroke West, where Rodney Smith will be carrying the PLP banner, and asked for the members to come out and support the new candidate.

She explained that previous by-elections in Paget East and Devonshire South had allowed the party to train people "on the job'', test its election machinery and promote its campaign theme.''